How to respond? They had always avoided speaking of any possible relationship between them. It had kept distance in both their minds and hearts, at least it had for Javenia. What would John say if he knew?
John removed his reading spectacles from his nose and leaned forward. “You may think y-you are h-hiding your thoughts, Javenia, but I am not as oblivious as you think.”
Javenia bit her bottom lip, moisture pooling in her eyes. How she wanted to spill her heart to them, but only Livy knew how desperately she pined over Algenon and only because she’d been weak and allowed her emotions to flow over last season.
Luckily, she was saved from any admission by the entrance of John’s butler.
“A missive from Roberts House, my lord.”
John plucked the paper off the silver salver and returned his spectacles to his nose. After a moment, he glanced up from the paper, a small smile playing at his lips.
“It seems we have been invited to join a small party at the Tower of London.”
Susannah clapped her hands together. “Marvelous. I do love the Tower. I believe the tigers are my favorite.”
The relief that spread through Javenia’s body was so palpable that she slumped forward and allowed a single tear to find its way onto her cheek before hurriedly swiping it away. Algenon had not forgotten her.
The Tower of London was not her first choice for discussing sensitive subjects, but they could wander off at some point. They’d done it often enough before.
Taking a deep breath to clear the tangle of emotions from her mind, Javenia said, “How lovely.” She glanced out the window. The hackney driver returned a quarter hour ago. “What time should I meet you all there?”
“Meet us?” John leaned forward. “We shall take you with us.”
Javenia shook her head and waved a hand at her simple morning dress. “I need to return home and change for such an outing and my hackney driver has already arrived. Besides, my mother will worry if she does not know where I will be.”
“We could pick you up in an hour,” Susannah suggested.
Javenia rose from her seat and the others followed suit. It was on the tip of her tongue to refuse, but she stopped. Why was she reluctant to accept the ride? Was she letting her impetuous independent nature get in the way?
“Very well,” she finally said. “I shall expect you in an hour.”
Chapter 17
When Javenia arrived home, she tried to sneak back in without notice, only to have her mother startle her the moment the butler shut the door.
“Where on earth have you been, young lady?”
Javenia straightened. “First, I am not young, and we both know it.”
“Do not try to change the subject. Here I thought you were still abed and now you are sneaking in the door like a child who’s just stolen biscuits from the kitchen. Now, where were you?”
The deep lines around her mother’s eyes and in her forehead pulled at Javenia’s conscience. She’d not meant to worry her, but she’d also not wanted to explain her visit either. “Newhurst House.”
Her mother’s shoulders relaxed as she let out a sigh of relief. “Oh, thank heavens.”
Javenia narrowed her eyes. “Where did you think I had gone? It must have been some place truly horrid for such theatrics.”
“I am not being dramatic. Your father came home this morning and reported seeing not only Lord Falcross enter the Roberts’ townhouse on his way to his meeting, but Lord Rupert entering on his way back.” Her mother clasped her hands and rubbed them back and forth. “If you ask me, it just isn’t decent. Two of the biggest rakes in London.” She paced. “Poor Angela. If only she could see how he is corrupting her son.”
Javenia stared at her mother. Did she truly believe Algenon was so weak as to fall in line with cads and rakes?
“Forgive me, Mama, but I do not see how Lord Roberts’s acquaintances are any of our business, especially after you have told me for years not to connect myself with his family.” She folded her arms and raised her eyebrows.
Her mother stopped pacing and smoothed the front of her morning dress. “Itismy business when I think my daughter is sneaking off to a home where a disgraceful lord might ruin her.”
If her mother had plunged a knife through her heart, it would not have hurt nearly as much. Year after year, season after season, her mother had worried about her safety here in London, had reminded her that a woman’s virtue was brittle and easily broken, and yet the one man they had approved of had been her biggest monster.
Javenia’s fingers found the fold in her skirt. If her parents ever found out what had happened to her, would they disown her? The least they’d do was blame her, say she’d been reckless, but she hadn’t. Not that day. She’d been careful, just as they’d taught her.
